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Changes to road tax and heating oil benefit are put on hold

Two of the pledges former alternate minister of finance Tryfon Alexiadis had made before the government reshuffle, concerning changes to road tax and the heating oil benefit, appear to have been shelved, although it is possible the latter will go ahead.

According to a top ministry official it is possible that road tax will remain the same as last year for vehicle owners as there is no time left for interventions (road tax is payable until the end of the year). Alexiadis had proposed tax reductions for owners of older and smaller vehicles and hikes for owners of newer and larger vehicles.

Regarding the heating oil benefit, the same official said that the ministry is examining whether it is technically feasible to introduce the changes based on geographical criteria that Alexiadis had recommended for the amount of the benefit granted to each household entitled to it. The official added that the issue will become clearer in the next few days, saying that “if the changes can be supported technically, they will proceed.”

As for demands for the abolition, or at least delay, of the upcoming hike in the special consumption tax on cigarettes, set for January 1, the same source stressed categorically that the increase will be imposed.